Obituary of Norma Jenkins

Norma Jean Godwin Jenkins of Ashburn, Virginia, age 84, returned to her Heavenly Father on Thursday, February 8, 2018. Jean was born in Perquimans County, North Carolina and was the daughter of Archie Godwin and the former Bessie Cartwright of WInfall, North Carolina. She is preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Archie Godwin, Jr. and James Godwin. Her passing was unexpected.
Jean graduated from Perquimans County High School in 1951 and went on to become a devoted educator. First, she earned a B.A. in Education from East Carolina. She went on to receive two Masters degrees; one in Elementary Guidance Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and one in Elementary Education from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Jean was a schoolteacher in Moore County, North Carolina for thirty years, most of which she taught fourth grade in Southern Pines.
Jean retired to the coast of North Carolina and worked as a guide on Portsmouth Island on the Outer Banks. She loved the beach and could often be found boating, fishing, shell hunting or teaching her grandchildren how to waterski. She loved to travel and visited her daughter on her numerous assignments around the world including Paraguay, Brazil, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Thailand, Hong Kong, England, Belgium, and Panama. Jean settled down on her beloved old family farm near Hertford in 2008.
She especially loved the now magnificent magnolia trees she had planted on the farm decades ago. She moved to Ashburn, VA after suffering a stroke in 2010.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Becky and son-in-law Brad Bruton of Ashburn, Virginia; three grandchildren, Derek Bruton and wife Amy of Ashburn, Virginia, Sarah Peterson and husband Ryan of Bucharest, Romania, and Eythan Bruton and wife Liz of Herndon, Virginia. Jean had two great grand children; James and Charlotte Peterson of Bucharest, Romania. She is also survived by three nieces, Suzette Romer and husband Rob of Alpharetta, Georgia, Tammy Gibbs and husband Dave of Ty Ty, Georgia, Melanie Gibbs and husband Eddie of Tifton, Georgia; two nephews , Kevin Godwin and wife Christie of Enigma, Georgia; Bill Godwin and a sister-in-law Katherine Godwin of Alapaha, Georgia.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 15, at 10:30, with visitation and viewing from 9:30 to 10:15 am, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ashburn, Virginia. A second service will be held in Hertford, North Carolina on Saturday, February 17, at 10:00 am at the Miller and Van Essendelft Funeral Home. Burial will be in Cedarwood Cemetery in Hertford.
In lieu of flowers charitable contributions made be made to the LDS Humanitarian Fund, the Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad, or the ASPCA.